English poem
Isaiah's Obedience to the heavenly Vision. Isaiah vi. 8
by Philip Doddridge (1773–1832)
Our GOD ascends his lofty Throne, Array'd in Majesty unknown; His Lustre all the Temple fills, And spreads o'er all th' ethereal Hills.
The holy, holy, holy LORD, By all the Seraphim ador'd, And, while they stand beneath his Seat, They veil their Faces, and their Feet.
And can a sinful Worm endure The Presence of a GOD so pure? Or these polluted Lips proclaim, The Honours of so grand a Name?
O for thine Altar's glowing Coal, To touch my Lips, to fire my Soul, To purge the sordid Dross away, And into Crystal turn my Clay.
Then if a Messenger thou ask, A Lab'rer for the hardest Task, Thro' all my Weakness, and my Fear, Love shall reply, "Thy Servant's here".
Nor should my willing Soul complain, Tho' all it's Efforts seem'd in vain; It ample Recompence shall be, But to have wrought, my GOD, for thee.
More by Philip Doddridge
- HYMN CLXXIV. The Ax laid to the Root of unfruitful Trees, Matthew iii. 10
- I. Enoch's Piety and Translation, Genesis V. 24. Hebrews XI. 5
- Inconstancy in Religion. Hosea vi. 4
- Invitation to return to the LORD, and put away Abominations. Jerem. iv. 1, 2
- ISRAEL and AMALEK. Exodus xvii. 11
- Israel's Obstinacy under GOD'S lifted Hand. Isaiah xxvi. 11
- JACOB'S Vow. Genesis xxviii. 20.-22
- James's Advice to Sinners. James iv. 7, 8